Thimble-decorating device



F. J. KRISTOFEK.

THIMBLE DECORATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-8. 1919.

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Patented May 2, 19220 5 SHEETS-SHEET I. N m

F. J. KRISTOFEK.

THIMBLE DECORATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION, FILED DEC. 8. 1919.

Patentefl May 2, 119220 5 SHEETS-SHEET Z- xmam 4 F. J. KRISTOFEK.

THIMBLE DECORATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 050.8, 919.

Patented May 2, 1922.

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fiz/rerifor F. J. KRISTOFEK.

THIMBLE DECORATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, ms.

1,414,82Q0 Patented May 2, 1922.

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F. 1. KRISTOFEK.

THIMBLE DECORATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8, 1919.

LA} @290 Patented May 2, 1922 5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

UNW'ED STARS PTEWE @FFEQE.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO BROWN & BIGELOW,OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

THIMBLE-DECORATING DEVICE.

Application filed December 8, 1919.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. KRIs'roFEK, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Thimble-Decorating Devices,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for decorating the outer portion of asurface with a band of enamel or paint and is particularly adapted to athimble enameling or painting device. The invention is provided withmeans for evenly applying a coat of enamel or paint to the surface of athimble in the form of a band to decorate the thimble with variouscolors and primarily to cause portions of the thimble to be moreprominently displayed and made attractive to the eye than when it is notdecorated.

In the manufacture of thimbles for advertising and display purposes itis desirable to print advertisements about the same and so as to makethe advertisement more prominent and attractive to the eye it is mostdesirable to apply a coat of enamel about the advertising matter on thesame to form a background for the display matter and thus cause the sameto be more prominently displayed on the surface of the thimble. Thisinvention is adapted to automatically apply a coat of enamel in the formof a band about the surface of the thimble and to automatically removethe thimble from the enameling or painting means, passing it through adrying means and automatically discharging the same dry and ready forthe next operation in the finishing of the same.

An important feature of this invention is the means for applying an evencoat of enamel or paint to the article to be decorated and to bake thesame onto the applied sur face before it has time to run or accumulatein a thicker deposit on the surface of the article decorated by thedevice. Further if the enamel or paint becomes too thick on portions ofthe surface being enameled it is apt to peel off during'the finishingopera tion, which consists in removing the enamel on the surface of thedisplay together with a slight portion of the surface to disclose thenatural color of the article which is decorated. This is particularlytrue with em bossed surfaces forming the display on athimble and theenamel or paint forming a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Serial No. 343,238.

background for the same which readily increases the attraction of thedisplay.

In the drawings forming part of this specification: Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the enamel-' mg or decorating device and drying means.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the enamel applying mechanism of the deviceand a portion of the carrying belt associated therewith, the remainderof the device being broken away. i

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2,a portion of which is broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail of a portion of the enamel applying mechanism, partof which is broken away.

Figure 5 is a detail partly illustrated in cross section, illustratingthe operating head of the enamel applying mechanism.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the operating head of the enamel applyingmechanism, illustrating a portion of the operating parts.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a thimble, a portion of which isillustrated in cross section.

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative construction of enamel applyingmechanism, av portion of which is broken away.

The drawing illustrate the decorating device A. which is provided withan automatic decorating mechanism B and a drying or baking mechanism C,while the decorated articles are deposited automatically into a suitablereceptacle D at the rear end of the decorating device A.

The automatic decorating mechanism B is composed of. a rotatableoperating head 10, which is mounted and freely rotatable on the shaft11. The shaft 11 is supported in the journal 12 and held in positiontherein by the nut- 13 while the journal 12 is formed with a downwardlydepending bracket arm 14 and is adjustably connected by means of thebolts 15 to the horizontally disposed arm 16 of the support 17. Thesupport 17 is connected by the bolts 18 to the table 19 and is adaptedto hold the parts connected thereto elevated or positioned above thetable 19- in a suitable manner. The table 19 is supported by suitablelegs 20 to position the mechanism above the floor.

The rotatable head 10 of the decorating ating head 10 on the inwardlyextending hollow shank 22, which extends through the body of the head 10and flush with the back surface of the same, suitable oil holes 23 beingprovided to lubricate the shank 22 so that it will rotate freely. Theinner portion of the head 10 is cut away to form a recess 24 whichconnects with the peripheral recess 25 to each of the mandrels 21. Thedrive pinion 26 is rigidly attached to the shank 22 ot the mandrel 21 bythe screw 27 and holds the mandrel 21 in position in the head 10.

Each mandrel 21 is provided with an axially positioned ejecting shaft28, which extends through the mandrel and which is heldin inner positionby means of a coil spring 29 that engages the collar 30 formed on theshaft 28, the spring 29 and collar 30 being positioned in the recess 31formed in the head of the mandrel 21. and held in position therein bythe hollow cap 32, which is rigidly connected to the forward end o1 themandrel 21 by suitable means. The ejecting shaft 28 is formed with ashoulder or head 33, which engages against the cap 32 when the ejectingshaft is in inner position in the mandrel 21.

The operating head 10 is formed with a series of notches 34 on itsforward snr't'are corresponding in number to the mandrels 21 so thatthere is a notch 34 for each mandrel, the spring catch 35, which ispositioned in the journal 12, engaging in the notches 34 to assist inholding the operating head 10 against rotation during a certain periodof its operation, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.The operating head 10 is rotated a step at a time, by an oper ating arm36, one end of which is pivotally and adjustably connected at 37 to thelever 38 and the lever 38 is pivotally held to the inner end of theshaft 11 by means of the cap screw 39, the cap screw 39 and lever 38assisting in holding the operating head 10 in position on the shaft 11.Ratchet teeth 40 are formed on the inner surface of a boss projectingfrom the back of the operating head 10 and are engaged by the operatingratchet pawl 41, which is held in engaging position by a suitable spring42 so that when the lever 36 is operated the head 10 will be rotated inthe direction of thearrow illustrated in Figure 6 a degree at a time orthe distance equal to that between each of the mandrels 21 on the head10.

The lever 36 is connected to an operating arm 43, which is operated bythe shaft 44 mounted onthe table 19 in suitable bearings and rotated bythe drive chain 45, which connects the shaft 44 with the parallel shaft46. The shaft 46 is operated by the drive Chain 47, which connects theshaft 46 with the parallel shaft 48, while the shaft 48 is operated bysuitable worm gears 49 from the 'the connected mandrel 21.

main drive belt 50. The drive belt 50 is connectedto any suitable sourceof power, such as an electric motor or other driving means and drivesthe entire operating mechanism of the device A.

The shaft 46 projects into the recess 24 in the operatinghead 10 andcarries a driving pinion 51 on its forward end, which is formed withpointed teeth that are adapted to mesh with similar teeth on the pinions26 to rotate the mandrels 21 when the head 10 is moved by the operatingarm 36 so that the pinions 26 mesh with the pinion 51.

The ejecting shafts 28 project a short distance out of the back of theoperating head 10 and are engaged by the book 52, which is pivotallyheld on the bracket 53 and held in position by the coil spring 54 toassist in holding the head 10 against rotation while the driving pinion51 is in mesh with one of the pinions 26 to cause the mandrel 21connected to the meshing pinion to be rotated while the head 10 is heldstationary against rotation for a short period. The arm 43, togetherwith the adjustment of the pivot point 37, is regulated so as to move orrotate the head 10 the distance equal to the space between each of themandrels 21 once in every revolution of the shaft 44,' 95

allowing the head 10 to remain stationary during a portion of therevolution of the shaft 44. At the time in which the head 16 remainsstationary, the pinion 51 is mesh ing with one of the pinions 26 androtating The hook 52 assists the spring catch 35 to hold the head 10stationary for a short period during the operation of the device A butboth of the catches 35 and 52 are free to be automatically released fromthe notches 34 and the rear end of the shaft 28, respectively, when theratchet lever 38 is operated to rotate the head 10.

- An enamel or paint applying Wheel 56 is secured to the shaft 57, whichis journaled in the bracket 58. The bracket 58 extends downwardly and issecured to the arm 59, which holds the bracket 58 in position above thetable 19. The bracket 58 is connected by the arm 59 to the member 60 soas to rigidly support the shaft 57 with the wheel 56 at an angle to themandrels 21. The mandels 21 are formed trustuma'l' conical in shape andare adapted to support articles such as the ordinary thimble E used insewing, which is also frustumal conical shaped. It is important that thewheel 56 engage against, the surface of the thimble or article held onthe mandrels 21 squarely and at a tangent to the surface of the same andit is for this reason'that the shaft 57 is positioned at a slight anglein relation to the axis of the mandrels 21. The shaft 57 is connected bya suitable universal joint 61 to a drive shaft 62, which is journaled ina suitable bearing 63, the bearing 63 being supported by the U shapedbracket 64, which is secured to the bracket 58 in a suitable manner. Theshaft 62 extends parallel with the shaft 48 and is driven by a suitablebelt 65 which connects the shafts 48 and 62 so as to drive the shaft 57in unison with the mandrel 21, whose pinion 26 is meshing with the drivepinion 51 and at the same speed of rotation. In this manner the enamelapplying wheel 56 is rotated in unison with the rotation of the mandrels21 when they are-operated by the pinions 51 so that when a thimble E orother article, is supported by the mandrel and brought into position tobe enameled or painted by the wheel 56, the enamel or paint is appliedto the article, with an even coat of enamel or paint and is then movedon so that the next mandrel will bring a new article into contact withthe applying wheel 56.

A guide 66 is pivoted at 67 to the arm 68, the arm 68 being held by'thenut 13 to the shaft 11 and the guide 66 being engaged and held inposition by the spring 69 to resiliently engage the articles held on themandrels 21, such as the thimbles E. In this manner the guide 66 willtend to force the articles onto the mandrels 21 and to hold them inposition so as to insure against the articles becoming disengaged fromthe mandrels 21 while they are in engagement with the applying wheel 56.

The applying wheel 56 is formed with a central annular groove in itsface, while the side projecting flanges engage against the article towhich enamel or paint is being applied, the central annular groove beingfor the purpose of not engaging with any embossed surface formed on thethimbles E, such as printed matter or other advertising display. Thesurface of. the applying wheel 56 dips into a trough 70 which isconnected with the enamel or paint supply container 71. By struction thetrough 70 is kept partially filled by the supply tank 71 to cover asurface of the applying wheel the applying wheel is rotated the enamelor paint is carried about its surface and caused to be applied in aneven coat on any articles carried by the mandrels 21 and brought intoposition to contact with the applying wheel.

A suitable guard 72, having a forward recessed end which fits over theouter surface and sides of the applying wheel 56, is adjustably held inthe bracket 73 and is adapted tobe operated by the screw 74, which isswivelly connected to the rear end of the guard to cause the guard to bemoved toward or away from the surface and sides of the applying wheel56. The guard 72 regulates the amount of enamel or paint to be carriedby adjusting this guard the coat or amount apa suitable ordinary con--56 and thus when,

the applying wheel 56. By-

In the operation of the device A the head 10 is rotated a step at a timeand thimbles, such as E, or other articles are slipped onto the mandrels21 so that they are carried to-.

ward the applying or enameling wheel 56. After the articles or thimbleshave been enameled they are carried downward by the operating head 10 tothe other side of the same and are removed automatically by'the removingmechanism F. The mechanism F is composed of the engaging fingers 75,which are pivotally connected together at 76 at which point they arealso connected to the operating arm 77. The engaging ends of the fingersare formed with a recess 78 in which the thimble E or other articlebeing removed from the mandrel is adapted to fit so as to be held by thefingers. The fingers 75 are formed to cross each other at their pivotpoint 76 and are formed with rear ends 79 which when operated tend toopen or close the fingers 75 as the pivot point 76 acts as the fulcrumlever action of the fingers.- he ends 79 are formed with atransversely.extending opening through which a coil spring 80 extendsand the ends of which are engaged by the pins 81 to cause the coilspring 80 to draw the ends 79 normally together. The fingers 75 aresecured to a member 82 at their pivot point 76 onthe opposite side ofthe fingers to the connection of the lever 77 and the member 82 carriesa guide roller 83, which operates in the cam slot 84 in the verticallydisposed cam plate 85.

The operating lever-7 7 is connected to the shaft 86 which is held insuitable bearings to the table 19 and the shaft 86 is connected by thelevers 87, 88 and 89 to the shaft 90, while the shaft 90 is connected bysuitable beveled gears 91 with the operating shaft 44. The operating arm88 extends below the operating head 10 and when the device A is inoperation and the shaft 44 is being operated, the connecting levers willoperate the shaft 88 to reciprocate the same and cause theguide roller83 to move back and forth inthe cam slot 84 to cause the fingers 75 tobe moved into position to engage the mandrel 21' at a time whentheoperating head 10 is at rest and when the applying wheel 56 is applyinga coat of enamel or paint to an article on the mandrel adjacent thewheel. The spring 80 allows the fingers 75 to expand sufiiciently tokeep the thimble. on the mandrel 21 while the end 55 of the ejectionshaft 28 in the mandrel 21' has been engaged by the cam arm 92 to forcethe head 33 of the -ejecting shaft 28 against the inner surface of thethimble point in the on the mandrel 21 to loosen the same from themandrel at the same time that the fin gers 75 engage the thimble andthus allow the fingers 75 to easily remove the thimble on the mandrel 21and carry it away from the operating head 10 leaving the mandrel 21ready to receive a new thimble or article for enamel. As the head 10rotates into the next position the end 55 of the shaft 28 is disengagedfrom the cam guard 92 and is again brought into normal position by thespring 29.

Figure. 4 illustrates the ejecting position of the shaft 28 and alsoillustrates in dotted outline the engaging position of the fingers 75.

As the fingers 75 arecarried away from the operating head 10 they areturned into a downward extending position by the cam slot 84, and thearms 93 which are secured to the ends 79 of the fingers and project fromthe same are brought into engagement with the ll-shaped releasing cam94, causing the ends 79 to be spread apart to release the thimble E anddeposit it automatically upon the endless carrier 95.

The carrier 95 is formed with longitudinally extending guards 96 oneither side of the same to prevent the thimbles E from becoming easilydisengaged from the carrier. and the carrier belt 95 is operated by thebelt 97, which connects with a shaft 98 that extends below the table 19and which is connected by the chain belt 99 to the shaft 44: so thatduring the operation of the device A the carrying belt 95 is operated atthe desired speed to carry the thimbles or other articles depositedthereon through the baking compartment C. The baking compartment C isheated by suitable stoves G which are heated by electricityor othersuitable means.

In the operation of the device A the thimbles E are placed onto themandrels 21 and as the operating head 10 rotates they are carried overto the other side of the operating head in position to be enameled or bythe applying wheel 56. After they have been enameled the head 10 rotatesto carry them over to a position in line with the engaging fingers 75where the fingers operate automatically to remove the thimbles when theparts of the mandrel are in the position illustrated by the mandrel 21?in F igure 4. The removing fingers 7 5 are moved from the dotted outlineposition ilustrated in Figure 4 to the releasing position illustrated inthis same figure where they drop the thimble right side up onto thecarrier 95. The head 10 continues to operate and the thimbles or otherarticles are manually positioned on the mandrels so as to be carriedaround into position to be enameled or painted. The guard 66 insuresthem being held in the proper position.

painted When the thimbles are dropped onto the carrier 95 they arecarried automatically through the bake oven and discharged into thereceptacle 1).

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative con struction of the operating head10, on which a series of cam surfaces 102 are formed which engageagainst the wheel on the end of the lever 103 to operate the releasingor valve opening lever 104: of the air brush 105. The air brush 105 isof ordinary construction, having an air inlet 106 and a fiuid inlet 107.The inlet 107 is adapted to admit enamel or paint coloring pigment tospray the same through the opening 108 of the guard 109 so as to spraythe paint or enamel in the desired manner onto the thimbles E or otherarticles carried by the mandrels 21. The coil spring 110 closes thevalve lever 10 1: auto matically when the cam surfaces 102 are out ofengagement with the wheel on the operating lever 103 so as to shut edthe air brush 105, thus cutting off the flow of decorating fiuid whenthe operating head 10 is moving one of the mandrels 21 away from thedecorating position and moving another mandrel with an undecoratedarticle in front of the guard 109 ready to be enameled or decorated. Inthis construction the decoration is-applied by the air brush 105. Asuitable container 111 is positioned below the nozzle 112 of the airbrush 105 to gather any surplus or drops of coloring matter which mayremain on the nozzle. Spring scraping members 113 are secured to theface of the head 10 and are adapted to rub over the guard 108 to cleanthe same of any decorating material which may adhere to the surfaceduring each operation of the air brush 105 and thus keep the opening ofthe same size without any of the decorating material adhering to thesame so as to clog it in the guard 108.

The carrier 95 carries the thimbles through the compartment C anddeposits the same automatically in the receptacle D so that after thearticles are placed upon the operating head 10 they are automaticallyenameled or painted and after being automatically removed are carriedthrough the bake oven and automaticallydeposited in the receptacle D dryand ready for the next finishing operation. The device is simple inoperation, accurately enameling or painting each article with an evencoat of enamel or paint so that each article is enameled in a mostdesirable way. By changing the con tainer or supply tank 71, which isremovably held by the thumb screw 100 to the bracket 101, a containersimilar to 71 with a trough can be placed on the mechanism B with anycolor it is desired to enamel the articles with. The device enamels orpaints the articles in such a manner as to make them more attractive foradvertising and other purposes and its automatic operations gives alabor saving mechanism which is very desirable.

In accordance with the patent statutes 1 have described the principlesof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and thatthe invention can be carried out by other means and applied to usesother than those above set forth with in the scope of the followingclaims:

1. A device for enameling an article, means for applying the enamelevenly in a band to the surface of the article, means for automaticallygrasping the article and removing it from the applying means saidgrasping means being adapted to automatically deposit the article on anendless carrier.

2. A decorating device for thimbles, ineluding means for receiving thesame and to individually bring them into contact with a decorating meansto evenly coat each thimble with a decoration, means to automaticallyremove each thimble from the re ceiving means and to automaticallydeposit eachthimble on a carrier in an upright posit10n and means forcarrying the thimbles through a heated compartment while they are heldin an upright position to bake the decoration on the same and toautomatically discharge them into a receptacle.

3. A decorating device for thimbles, including means for automaticallyapplying a -decorating band on each thimble, finger means forautomatically removing the thimbles from the decorating means, anendless carrier adapted to receive the thimbles from said removing meansand means for operating said means in unison.

4. An enamel and paint applying device for thimbles, including arotatable receiving member, rotatable mandrels carried by said receivingmember, pinions carried by said mandrels, means formoving said receivingmember a step at a time, means for holding said receiving member withits mandrels stationary, means for engaging the pinions of said mandrelsindividually when said receiving member is at rest to rotate the mandrelwhose pinion is being engaged and to rotate a. thimble carried on therotating mandrel, means for applying a decoration to the thimble carriedby the rotating mandrel when the receiving member is at rest and meansfor removing the thimbles from said mandrels when the receiving memberhas been rotated to coincide with the removing means to automaticallyremove the thimbles from the mandrels and to discharge them right sideup.

5. A device of the class described, including a rotatable operatingmember adapted to carry a-series of thimble holding mandrels,

means for rotating the mandrels individually when said operating memberis at rest. means for moving said operating member a step at a time,means for evenly applying a coat of enamel or paint to the surface ofthe thimbles when their holding mandrel is being rotated, means forloosening the thim- 6. A decorating device,including an operatingmember, means for rotating said member a degree at a time, means forholding said member stationary against rotation between each movement, aseries of thimble holding mandrels rotatably held by said member, springguard means adapted to guide the thimbles onto said mandrels to holdthem firmly in place, decorating means, means for operatoing saiddecorating means and rotating one of said mandrels when said mandrelcomes adjacent said operating means to cause said decorating means andmandrel operating means to operate in unison to decorate the thimbles onsaid mandrels, means for automatically removing the thimbles from saidmandrels and means for carrying said thimbles away from said operatingmeans and discharge them into a suit able receptacle after they aredried.

7 A decorating device, including a rotatable. receiving head having aseries of holding mandrels, an enamel or paint decorating means forapplying a band of coloring pigment about the surface of an articlesupported on said mandrels, means for operating said mandrels in unisonwith the operation of the pigment'applying means, an arm adapted toengage an axially positioned releasing member in said mandrels to loosenthe articles held on said mandrels, fingers adapted to resilientlyengage the loosened article on the mandrel to remove the same and meansfor releasing the grip of said fingers from said article to drop thearticle automatically onto a carrying means when said fingers are movedinto position to hold the article right side up and away from theoperating head and mandrels.

8. A decorating device having an enamel or paint applying means,comprising a rotatable member, a series of rotatable mandrels held bysaid member, means for rotating said member with its mandrels thedistance equal to that between each of its mandrels at each movement ofrotation, means for engaging and rotating the mandrels individually oneat a time when said rotatable member is at rest, means for holding saidrotatable member against rotation While one of the mandrels is beingrotated, means for applying a coat of paint or en amel to decorate anarticle held on the rotating mandrel and means for automaticallyremoving the articles from the mandrels and depositing them at a pointaway from the mandre'ls and rotating member so that they can be carriedaway to a receptacle after they are dried.

9. A decorating device having means for receiving a series of thimbles,means for automatically applying a decorating band to each thirnble,means for automatically depositing-each thimble after it is decorated,and means for baking the decoration on the thimbles. I

10. A decorating device, including means for receiving a series ofthimbles manually, means for operating said receiving means a step at atime, mandrels on said receiving means, a decorating means positioned toone side of said receiving means past which all of said mandrels areadapted to pass, means for holding said receiving means stationary wheneach of said mandre-ls come adjacent said decorating means, means foroperating said decoratin means and adjacent mandrel with its thimlo e inunison with said decorating means to apply an even coat of decoration tothe thimble, means for releasing the thimble from a tight hold on themandrel after it passes said decorating means, spring engaging fingersadapted to engage the thimbles when they are loosened from the mandrels,a cam guide plate adapted to guide said fingers into engagement toremove the thimble when loosened from the mandrel and to draw thethimble away from the mandrel and cam means adapted to engage saidfingers to loosen the thimble car, ried by the same to deposit it ontoan endless carrier which is operated continuously during the operationof said device to carry the enameled thimbles away from said receivingmeans for the purposes specified.

FRANK J. KRISTQFEK.

